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Trend Micro - Malware Become more Advanced and Sophisticated

According to a security analysis by TrendLabs (the worldwide e-threat research and support agency of Trend Micro), modern malware frequently utilizes advanced tactics to deceptively hide itself on end-users' computers. Such malware can be of polymorphic nature or encrypted that helps it to evade conventional detection software and change its form and subsequently become invisible, as reported by AMEInfo.com on August 16, 2009.

Moreover, modern malware uses advanced modes of infection. Today, people need no longer be convinced to open an e-mail attachment or download a file for subsequent execution. Users' computers can be brought under unauthorized control merely by tricking them into accessing a malware-infested website.

Adrian Marsh, Managing Director of Growth Markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Trend Micro, states that there have been more malware variants during the period March 2008-July 2009 compared to the last 19 years of the firm's presence. Moreover, e-mail-borne malware haven't disappeared, but the most rapidly used medium of infection, as reported by AMEInfo.

Marsh further states that malware attacks are growing in sophistication via their target on separate organizations, quick reaction to major events, and combination with various elements like e-mail, social engineering methods and the web.

Additionally, Black Hat hackers are employing increasingly subtle tactics that stir people's psychology to make them follow infected links after concealing malicious software on genuine-appearing web-pages related to some current interesting topic and then sending those links through e-mail, or sharing them on social-networking websites.

Indeed, Trend Micro's discovery that there is an alarming increase in malware has been backed by McAfee the Internet security agency, which also says that a huge 6,000 fresh malicious programs are being developed daily.

According to both McAfee and Trend Micro, awareness is important in minimizing the download of malware on users' computers. As for company security, a rigorous policy on security should be enforced to prevent employees from downloading malware on corporate computers in case they access social-networking sites that malware purveyors often utilize to distribute malicious code on visitors' systems.

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